Gathering mechanism



Feb, 13, 1923. mmss.

J. F. JOY

GATHERING MECHANISM.

ORIGINAL FILED JUNE II, 1920. I 2 SHEETSSHEE T 1- FIG. E

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Feb. 13,1923. 1,445,088.

J. F. JOY.

GATHERING MECHANISM. ORIGINAL FILED JUNE 11, 1920. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JOSEPH F. JOY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

GATHERING MECHMISM.

Application filed June 11, 1920, Serial No. 388,156. Renewed November 1, 1922., Serial No. 598,436.

To all whom it may. concern:

Be it known that I JOSEPH F. Jor, a citizen of the United tates of America, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gathering Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and lo useful improvements. in gathering mechanisms for coal loading machines, and more particularly for that class of loading machines adapted to transfer coal from themine floor to conveniently placed cars for transportation from the mine.

Specifically, the present invention contemplates improvement of the general form of gathering mechanism shown, described and claimed in my U. S. Patent #1,306,064:,

2o dated June 10, 1919.

The primary obj to provide an improved gatherin arm construction which will be extreme y durable and efficient in operation b reason of the as particular provision for yie dably or pivotally mounting the finger member of the gathering arm so as to insure movement thereof without obstruction over irregularities of the mine floor and the like.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a gathering mechanism including a gathering arm, and means to move the same in a fixed non-circular orbital path, the gathering arm being provided with upwardly extending cutter bits which increase in height gradually rearwardly from the tip of the arm whereby the arm will eliiciently penetrate standing shattered coal and pull the same down as well as toward and upon to a loading conveyor at each cycle of operation ofthe gathering arm. 7

Further objects will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood. and the same consists in the novel 15 form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a gathering mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention and carried at the forward end of a loa ding conveyor,

ect of the invention is F igure' 2 is an enlarged plan view, partly.

broiken away, of the gathering arm detache an Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the gathering arm partly in side elevation and partly 111 longitudinal section, the finger member of the arm. being indicated in upwardly swung position by dotted lines. a 1

Referring more in detail to the several views, the loading machine in connection with which the present gathering mechanism is used, broadly includes a gathering head or apron A carried by the lower forward end of a loading conveyor B of the usual and well known chain and scraper type whose foot shaft 5 is driven in the usual manner by the engagement of the sprocket chains of the endless conveyor member, not shown, with the sprocket wheels 6 carried by said shaft 5. p

I As is the case with the mechanism of my above mentioned patent, the present gathering mechanism includes a disk 7 upon the head A at each side of the conveyor B, the disks 7 having teeth upon their under faces in mesh with bevel gears 8 u on the opposite ends of the shaft 5, where when continuous rotation is imparted to shaft 5, the disks 7 are caused to continuously rotate in the direction of the arrows a.

Each disk 7 is provided with an upwardly extending stub shaft 9 which extends through an aperture 10 of the hub 11 of one'of the gathering arms. The hub members 11 are. suitably retained on the stub shafts 9, so that they may be free to swing horizontally relative to the disks 7, and they have laterally projecting socketed portions 12 in which the inner ends of the squared guide rods 13 are secured. Swiveled on the shoe A for horizontal oscillation are suitable guide members 14 through which member the guide rods 13 slidably extend. The hub bers 17 from the full line to the dotted line position thereof as shown in Fig. 3, the under parts of the inner ends oi the finger members 17 being also cut away at an incline as at 18 for permitting this limited tirely beyond swinging movemen t of the finger members. The finger members 17 are pivota-lly connected to the hub members 11 for vertical swinging movement by means of transverse pivot'pins or bolts 19 which extend horizontally through apertures provided in the socketed portions of the hub members and in the inner end portions of the finger members the apertures of the hub members and finger members being horizontally enlarged as at 20 so as to insure freedom of-movement for the finger members upon their pivots 19. If the pins 19 are in the form of bolts. nuts 21 are threaded upon the same and locked thereon in. any well known manner. The finger members 17 are provided with a plurality of'vertical bores 01' sockets 22 arranged in a longitudinal series as shown clearly in Figs. .2 and 3, and the shanks of suitable cutter teeth 23 are suitably secured in these bores so that said cutter teeth project upwardly from the finger members a greater-distance gradually from the points or tips of the finger members toward the hub members.

When the shaft 5 'is rotated, rotation is imparted to the disk 7 for causing movement of the gathering arms. The paths described by the tips of the gathering arm fingers are substantially reniform and extend almost enthe front-edge of the -shoe A, it being noted that the initial movement imparted to the finger members 17 is longitudinal for easily penetrating a pile of material. "The finger members then move laterally and rearwardly to pull down shattered coal-and to rake the same onto the conveyor 3 until they reach a point adjacent the shaft 5, when they recede or move slightly forward and iaterally away from the conveyor so as to avoid sweeping the ,coal of? of the conveyor in returning to the start of'the penetrating position. The paths are indicated in dotted lines in Fig.1, and it will be noted that such paths cross each other adjacent the shaft 5 so that it is necessary to move the gatherin arms alternately toward and away from t e conveyor.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction and, operation of the present invention will be readily understood and the advantages thereof appreciated.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is ciaimed as new is:-

1. in a loading machine, a loading con-- veyor, a gathering mechanism carried by the with a socketed portion, and a finger member pivoted in said socketed portion for vertical swinging movement. l U

2. In a loading machine, a loading conveyor, a gathering mechanism carried by the lower end of said conveyor including a sub stantially horizontally arranged gathering ar'm, means to move the arm in a fixed non circular substantially horizontal orbital path at the lower end of said conveyor, said armincluding an actuated hub member provided with asocketed portion, and a finger member pivoted in said socketed portion for vertical swinging movement, said socketed portion of the hub member and the inner end of said gathering fin er being similarly cutaway to provide 0 e'arance for allowing limited swinging movement of the finger member.

3. A gathering mechanism including a horizontally swingable hub member provided with a socketed portion, a horizontal finger member having one end pivoted in the socketed portion. of the hub member for vertical swinging movement, said finger member and the socketed portion of the hub member being cooperatively constructed for preventing said fingermember from moving below a point wherein the latter is horizontally alined with said hub member, and means operatively connected to said hub member to move the finger member in a fixed non-circular horizontal orbital path.

4. ftgathering mechanism including a horizontally swingable hub member having a socketed portion, a horizontal finger member hingedly mounted in the socketed portion of the hub member for vertical movement, said socketed portion of the hub member and the finger member being operatively constructed for limiting the upward movement of the finger member, and means op-' erativeiy connected to said hub member to move the finger cular substantially horizontal orbital path.

5. A. gatheringmechanism including a horizontally swingable hub member having a socketed portion, a horizontal finger mem-' ber loosely hingedly mounted in the socketed portion of the hub member for vertical movement, said socketed portion of the hub member and the finger member being cooperatively constructed for limiting" the swinging movement'of the finger member in opposite directions, and means operatively member in a fixedraindrconnected to said hub member to more the finger member in a fixed stantiaiiy horizontal orb" 6. A gatsubstantiaiij,

I on-circuiar substantiaily horiacntaily "a lar orbital p said lug increased heights from the Up of the same inwardly. v

7 A gathering mechanism including a substantially horizontally arranged gathering arm, and means to move said arm substantially horizontally in a fixed non-circular orbital path, said gathering arm including a finger member having cutter bits extending upwardly therefrom at gradually increased heights from the tip of the same 10 inwardly and said finger member being hinged for vertical movement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

- JOSEPH F. JOY. 

